“When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.”

- George Washington Carver

People of the New World owe their very existence to the brave explorers of past centuries. These daring men left their comfortable habitats to see what other wonders the world had to offer. Their bold statement is what can be construed as the foundation of American society. That said, I think it’s time that you started considering yourself a modern explorer.

Of course, there’s no land left to discover on this planet, but you can still sail through the uncharted waters of your life. Unfortunately, when some of us reach a certain status and level of success, we often feel complacent, contented with our way of life.

But it’s at this precise moment that we must break free from the cozy cocoon. Consider this a simple milestone on the way to greater things. It’s great to be comfortable with your life, only remember that there are greater things to be had.

Shake things up a little in your life; take on new responsibilities and risks, and see where they take you. Remember what former General Electric CEO Jack Welch once said: “Change before you have to.”

1. Learn New Things

The world is in perpetual mutation and you should be as well. Take a moment to learn something new every day. This newfound knowledge can be academic or practical; it doesn’t matter, so long as it broadens your horizons. The point is to initiate your transformation into something different than your old self.

2. Analyze Your Life

Every once in a while, you should put your life on pause, take a step back, and take a good look at where you stand. Figure out what you’ve accomplished so far and examine the distance between that place and where you intend to go in your life. This is a good opportunity to establish a five or ten-year plan. Once you have your priorities straight, you’ll know the way to success.

3. Schedule Your Life

Once you’ve set your goals and taken steps to reach them, you must make time to accomplish them. For example, if you’re planning on going over ideas with the marketing people on a regular basis, look over your tasks and actually set aside a specific time to meet with them.

As well, start analyzing how long it takes you to do all your tasks (professional, domestic and otherwise) and make the necessary changes where you see fit.

4. Take Risks

This is where we separate the men from the boys. This is where your life will make giant leaps toward radical change. You must follow your long-nurtured dreams.

If you’ve always fantasized about going into real estate, do your homework and then purchase some property. It’s a dicey venture where huge sums of money are involved, but the financial benefits are potentially huge. He who risks nothing, gains nothing.

5. Travel to New Places

The next vacation you go on should take you somewhere you’ve never been before. Stay off the tourist maps, avoid the sandy beaches of the Caribbean and five-star hotels.

Take off for a year (or however long your schedule allows) to some exotic locale such as Thailand or Mali. Immerse yourself in this new culture, learn a new way of life, find out how others on this planet see the world, and get a new perspective on life.

6. Branch Out at the Office

Work is always easier when we are able to do as little as possible. However, your goal is to explore life, so you should do the same at the office. Ask for more projects and get into them with fierce abandon. Visit co-workers and get involved in their work so you can learn another aspect of your business.

7. Network

Contacts are part of the reason careers take off, but contacts are made via socializing. You must venture out into the world and meet as many people as you can. Then you must cultivate the relationships you do have with regular phone calls and e-mail.

Do so at the office by talking to superiors, peers and subordinates, and do so in your personal life as well. And don’t limit yourself to those of high social standing, talk to everyone.

8. Organize an Event

It’s time to welcome more responsibility into your life. The best way to do so is by burdening yourself with organizing a social event. A day of golfing with fellow colleagues is a timeless classic.

Prepare the invitations, make the reservations, and then enjoy the event. Also, getting involved in volunteer work will allow you to test your organizational skills and network.

9. Use Buddy-Check Motivation

This type of system can work wonders for your motivation and help you achieve your goals. Locate a friend who has the same drive as you and instill a system where you will be in constant contact, motivating one another to do better.

Brainstorm ideas together and learn from each other’s feedback. If you’re just starting out in the “real” world, find an older, more experienced person you respect and have him mentor you.

10. Expand Your Readings

Remember that moment in Good Will Hunting when Matt Damon berates a Harvard student about how there’s nothing in a $150,000 education that can’t be acquired through a buck fifty in late charges at the public library?

Books are the source of all knowledge and you should take advantage of them. Read books on all subjects: history, business, science, classic literature. You must broaden your scope and culture.

11. Write

In the spirit of trying things you’ve never done before, why not give writing a shot? You don’t have to publish a ten-volume epic saga, but start with a journal and record your life experiences. Or, if you’ve always been told that you have a knack for writing, try a freelancing gig at your local paper.

When you set out to explore life, your sole purpose should be the desire to fight stagnancy. You want to move things around in your life and make new decisions and take alternative actions. From the start, you must want to change yourself for the better and just go for it. And so you shall.

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